The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on Friday urged the Centre to take over colleges run by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government claiming that teachers were not getting proper salaries due to budget cuts while political activists were being appointed as head of governing bodies.
DUTA chief A K Bhagi also claimed that teachers had even held demonstrations outside Chief Minister Kejriwal’s house but to no avail. “Due to fund deficit, pay cut of teachers is happening since last two yrs in 12 colleges under Delhi government. We’ve held demonstrations outside CM’s house, gone to Deputy CM, nobody listened to us. We want the Central govt to take these colleges under its wings,” Bhagi said.
The teachers’ body took the strong stance after the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya college told staff members that a part of their salaries was being withheld due to fund-crunch. Bhagi said the 12 colleges funded by the Delhi government faced a deficit of about 85 to 90 crores. “This problem has been going on for 5 years, earlier funds were delayed, but funds are being cut for the last two years.
At present, there is a deficit of about 85 to 90 crores in 12 colleges funded by the Delhi government,” said Bhagi.
The DUTA chief claimed that “misgovernance” was rampant across several colleges being run by the Delhi government. He also accused AAP of politicising their governing bodies. “There’s misgovernance in 20 more colleges under the Delhi governemnt. Governing bodies in those colleges have been politicized, AAP workers appointed as members,” the DUTA president said.
The issue has the potential to snowball into another major confrontation between the BJP, which is in power at the Centre, and AAP, which rules Delhi. While the AAP government has repeatedly sought to project its ‘education model’ as a revolutionary one, the BJP has consistently questioned the claims.
BJP has accused AAP of corruption, improprieties and misleading people through publicity on a range of issues. The AAP has claimed that the BJP charges are politically motivated.
DUTA president Bhagi added that not only teachers but students were also facing problems as even basic amenities were not freely available on campuses. “Even the medical bills of the people are not being reimbursed, there is a problem in allowances. Not only teachers but students are also facing problems as there is no maintenance. Sometimes there is a problem of water, sometimes there is no electricity because the bills are not paid on time,” the DUTA president said.
